For International Day of Women and Girls in Science day, I thought I'd share a lesson from one of my favorite fictional leaders and a scientist by training, Captain Kathryn Janeway from the 1990s TV series Star Trek Voyager, played by the incomparable Kate Mulgrew. In many ways the character was a pioneer for a storied franchise that dates back to the 1960s, most notability for the off-camera reason of Mulgrew being the first woman to headline a Trek series. Janeway was a skilled leader for the mission she inherited, so no doubt I'll revisit the character on this blog.
Today I want to focus on a moment from the show that for me captures her leadership philosophy. Early on in the series, Janeway offered three things to remember about being captain: keep your shirt tucked in, go down with the ship, and never abandon a member of one's crew. The first espoused the importance of leading by example. A leader has a symbolic role in representing something larger than themselves, so it's important to do the little things right to set an example. The second of going down with the ship speaks to accountably and sacrifice as leaders must often be the most commitment to the cause itself. And the third, to me speaks to the power of leaders to reach back and give a hand to the most vulnerable members of their teams. While we have great progress in who is included in many facets of our society, people because of the racial, gender, or socioeconomic identities can be left behind. It is a leader's job to recognize and see people who have been left behind and work to uplift them.
This simple yet effective philosophy helped Janeway carry out her mission and its real world implications can help your leadership as well.
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